Glöde

Glöde

Ø

Membran Entertainment Group

Simon Glöde has crafted a captivating debut album simply called Ø, which means Danish for Island.  From the shortest track Jeg Vil Elske (I will Love, 1.44) to the longest track Exhale (7.10) for the last track, I was spellbound by the vocals and acoustics that made me want to listen intensely to the lyrics, reminding me of Al Stewart, America, Richard Hawley, Damien Rice and Alex Turner and this calibre is uncommon.  The songs themselves tell vivid stories and many are about the sea which is heavily influenced by his upbringing on Danish shore lands and more recently a sojourn in Hamburg.   It was easy to picture an ocean while listening to this music and so I was surprised that some natural sounds of the sea were not included on at least three tracks. It’s probable Mr Glöde was quite content with the depth already offered by this gently uplifting, recline and unwind album.

NE

Barb Wire Dolls

Barb Wire Dolls

Rub My Mind

Motörhead Music

Cretan female-fronted, self-styled, punk band, Barb Wire Dolls, flew to L.A at the invitation of Rodney Bingenheimer, who is credited for breaking The Ramones, The Clash, Sex Pistols and Blondie in the USA.  Motörhead’s Lemmy signed them to their label after seeing them perform at the Whisky A-Go-Go, during one of several residencies there.  I was disappointed therefore to find this album was too far removed from punk and closer to the pop of Blondie and Texas at times, especially in track two If I Fall, that interestingly has a similar howling at almost the same second minute that Roxy Music’s famous Let’s Stick Together includes. Desert Song, Gold and Fade Away are slower and have more complex arrangements and allow Queen Isis, the lead vocalist, the room to express her vocals to better effect and the guitars are much more authentic. If this band want to conquer the world, they need to either inject more venom into their sound, like they do in track ten, Contract, akin to say Penetration’s Coming Up for Air, or play to their current strengths which for me were the slower songs and arrangements which by definition, may not be punk.  They have more talent than they think and they should rely on their own instincts to guide them.

NE